Tennessee mother Staci Marklin was just 47 when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s\u2014years before most people show symptoms. At first, she didn\u2019t realize anything serious was happening; she assumed the early signs were simply \u201cmom brain\u201d while caring for her two-year-old son.<\/p>\n
Alzheimer\u2019s, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a progressive brain disease that damages memory, thinking, and organizational skills, usually appearing after age 65. There is no cure, though treatments can slow progression.<\/p>\n
Staci\u2019s first symptoms were unusual: she began mixing up words and occasionally forgetting people she knew well. Her grandmother had Alzheimer\u2019s, and although doctors said it was rare at her age, testing\u2014including an amyloid PET scan\u2014confirmed the diagnosis in October 2024. The news left her and her husband devastated.<\/p>\n
Staci has since started treatment with lecanemab and shares her experience on TikTok to help reduce stigma. She wants others to know that Alzheimer\u2019s isn\u2019t only an older person\u2019s disease and that those living with it can still function and be understood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tennessee mother Staci Marklin was just 47 when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer\u2019s\u2014years before most people show symptoms. At first, she didn\u2019t realize anything serious was happening; she assumed the early signs were simply \u201cmom brain\u201d while caring for her two-year-old son. Alzheimer\u2019s, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is a progressive brain disease that…<\/p>\n